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SummaryMy research at Princeton University focuses on gaining a fundamental quantative understanding of the processes that guide design of supersonic and hypersonic flight vehicles with laser, plasma and MHD assisted operation. This includes theoretical and experimental work. On the theoretical side, I am investigating the efficacy of laser energy deposition for drag reduction and lift enhancement and have developed an optimization technique using an adjoint method. On the experimental side, experiments are ongoing which are geared towards understanding the energy efficiency of laser discharges in producing steering moments, deflection forces and destabilization. This is part of a DARPA effort to develop laser and microwave countermeasures for high speed projectiles.